COVID-19: Chris Oyakhilome Foundation donates to 2000 households in Edo

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Beneficiaries of Pastor Chris’ Foundation Emergency Food relief in Edo State

Pastor Omoh Alabi presenting food items to of beneficiaries of Pastor Chris’ Foundation Emergency Food relief in Edo State
Pastor Omoh Alabi presenting food items to of beneficiaries of Pastor Chris’ Foundation Emergency Food relief in Edo State

By Taiwo Okanlawon

The Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International has continued support Nigerian government at all levels with food items and other relief materials to help soften the effects of numerous dangers posed by the ravaging Novel Coronavirus pandemic across the country.

The organization, owned by Pastor and philanthropist, Chris Oyakhilome is one of the leading private organizations that have been at the forefront to take action to meet the needs of many localities who do not have real means of survival during this pandemic all over the country.

Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International, (COFI) once again supported no less than 2000 households in Ewu and nine other communities in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, with Emergency Food relief donations.

This is coming weeks after The InnerCity Mission for Children, under the auspices of the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International donated food items to the Lagos state government to help and also help the government in the distribution of the food items, targeting vulnerable children, households, and communities to help them cushion the effects of the government’s stay-at-home directive by government to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The organization’s main goal for supporting the state government was to cushion the effects of lockdown on Lagosians as the Coronavirus outbreak has affected all areas of human endeavor.

The founder of the Rev. Chris Oyakhilome who is also InnerCity Mission for Children is committed to working with the government to ensure that efforts to combat the virus are not made in vain by those who may be driven to the streets as a result of hunger.

A cross section of Pastor Chris’ Foundation flagging HRH, Onojie of Ewu
A cross-section of Pastor Chris’ Foundation flagging of Emergency Food relief HRH, Onojie of Ewu

In Edo State, the leader of the delegation, Pastor Omoh Alabi, stated that the founder of the Foundation believes government alone cannot cushion the effect of the lockdown, hence the need to support its efforts, adding that the Foundation’s emergency food donations would cut-across the six geopolitical zones in the country.

According to her, the impact of the Coronavirus and the consequent lockdown on the livelihood of the people is huge hence the decision to join the government in assisting the people.

In her words; “In an effort to curb the spread of the recent pandemic, governments of Nations imposed several lockdown measures which mounted economic pressure on vulnerable households, this adversely affected their means of livelihood thereby hampering their ability to meet their immediate basic needs such as access to food”.

I would like to commend the efforts of Government at the Federal, State, and Local levels including the traditional institutions in seeking to help the citizens especially the poor in our rural communities through various Social Interventions to extend the palliatives.

“Our Man Of God, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome DD DSc believes that Government needs immense support from the Christian Community as well as well-meaning individuals as it cannot do it alone.

“It is In recognition of the above that the COFI has reached out to help governments in meeting this need by providing food items to households.

Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International
Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International’s Emergency Food Relief

Alabi continued; “The Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International has embarked on THE EMERGENCY FOOD RELIEF across several nations and tens of thousands of families across the six geo-political zones of the country have benefited from this gesture already.

“Our Man Of God believes that if we all will do the little we can much more people will be impacted during this very trying times for many.

“In Nigeria specifically, we have had collaborative statewide Food Relief Distribution with various state governments and partner agencies, these include, Lagos, Ogun, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Adamawa, Ebonyi, Rivers, Borno, Imo, Abia and The Federal Capital Territory-Abuja among others.

“So far, we have reached several thousands of households in hundreds of communities in several countries with more than half of the beneficiaries in Nigeria alone. This has been made possible through the Christ Embassy Churches across the countries”.

“Today, The Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International extends its support to the Edo State government in its fight against Covid-19 effect by directly distributing food parcels to 2000 vulnerable families and other vulnerable groups like the elderly and widows in identified communities in Ewu like Idunwele, Oghodogbor, Uzokholo, Eko, Ehanlen, Eguare, Ihenwen and Ukhiodo.

“Already, several families have been benefiting in their thousands in other parts of the state. Each household food parcel contains Rice, beans, Garri amongst others.

“We are confident that in no distant time, our communities would open up again, livelihoods would be restored, businesses would flourish and the impact of the restrictions from the preventive measures would be drastically reduced if not totally eliminated.

Pastor Chris’ Foundation team at the palace of HRH, Onojie of Ewu

While receiving the donation on behalf of Ewu kingdom, the Onojie of Ewu, His Royal Highness, Abudu Rasak Ojiefor Isesele the III, hailed the founder of the Foundation, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome for the kind gesture.

He added that, by the timely intervention, it will go a long way in ameliorating the suffering of his people, particularly in this COVID-19 period.

He said,  ”Rev. Chris Oyakhilome, you have brought huge succour to the communities and the kingdom at large.

“2000 households are no joke; it will go way in ameliorating the suffering of my people particularly in this COVID-19 period. The people of Ewu are proud of him, he is our illustrious son”.

The elated Onojie also disclosed that since the COVID-19 curfew, his subjects have always cued every day at the palace seeking for palliatives to address the hunger needs occasioned by the stay at home order.

He, however, urged spirited citizens to emulate the efforts of the donor.

Some of the beneficiaries who could not hide their feelings expressed total satisfaction and confidence on Pastor Chris’ Foundation for coming in such a time to ameliorate their sufferings and prayed to God to use him to do more for the people particularly the less privilege.

COFI is a non-profit and non-political organization that was established to help individuals, communities, nations to live a purposeful and productive life through the sponsorship of different initiatives that are in line with the founder’s mission.

Since inception, it is said to have impacted more than 500 communities of 1 million persons in 23 Africa countries, including Indian, whilst also endowed tertiary institutions with infrastructure and amenities essential for learning.

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